At the foot of black mountaIn, in the heart of the Glen

The idea of Rí was born in West Belfast, an area of great Irish industrial heritage.

Rising behind west Belfast, the Black Mountain — Sliabh Dubh — was formed from layers of dark basalt laid down millions of years ago and shaped by glacial ice during the last Ice Age.

During the nineteenth century, the rivers that coursed down the mountain, and carved through the Colin Glen forest, powered the mills that spun some of Ireland’s finest linen. These linen mills helped establish Belfast as the world’s greatest linen exporter - "Linenopolis"

Inspired by history, myth and mystery

Like many proud Irish men and women, we take immense pride in our history, and in the stories passed down through generations.

From the mysteries behind the ancient stones of Newgrange, older than the pyramids, to the sacred Hill of Tara, ritualistic seat of the High Kings, these places remind us of the rich and complex history that has shaped not only the land, but the culture within Ireland over thousands of years.

We share a fascination in exploring this history, in unweaving the blurred lines between fact and fiction, reviving the tales of kings and kingdoms, and reliving the myths and mysteries etched into the land.

An Chéad Cu

The First Hound

Through collaborating with the exceptional Galway artist, Sinead Harte, this watercolour became the first visual expression of Ri, a powerful beginning, and a perfect example of the creative lens through which we wish to explore Irish culture and history.

Taiscéal Anois